#local carpenter near me

[tradecomgrouproofingservices]

Why Hire Local Contractors for Carpentry and Joinery?

Wooden installations require professional carpentry contractors. Carpentry and joinery projects are necessary for every home or other construction- from framing to furniture. So, it is important to hire the right people to ensure the success and flawless completion of such projects. If you are thinking about hiring professional carpenters for your carpentry and joinery project for your building construction, here are the tips you may need to consider.

In this write-up, we have explained the factors you must consider when hiring carpentry contractors for your project.

Consider Hiring Local Carpenters

While reaching out to carpentry and joinery experts, it is always better to contact local carpenters near you for easy communication and quick response. Local contractors are also easy to reach and you can also get references for the local carpenters from people near you. So, no matter what type of carpentry or joinery projects you have, hiring local carpenters is a smart choice. 

Be Sure of Industry Experience

Another crucial thing you need to take into consideration while hiring carpentry and joinery contractors is their experience in this field. You should always ask for their industry experience and their past project in the initial meetings to learn if they are qualified for the job and if they can successfully complete the project without making any mistakes.

Check if they Are Well-Equipped

Carpentry and joinery projects involve the use of different equipment and tools. These pieces of equipment can ensure more efficiency and accuracy. So, before you trust your framing or other carpentry project to a team of local carpenters, you need to make sure that they have all the necessary tools and machines to do the job flawlessly to ensure the desired outcome.

If you are ready for your framing or wooden construction project, consider the tips to find the best carpenters near you for your carpentry and joinery project. Visit the website of the local carpenters to learn more about their services and get other details.

[aresbrowning]

Maximising Small Spaces: Tips for Renovating Compact Bathrooms in Perth Apartments

Living in a Perth apartment with limited bathroom space doesn't mean you have to compromise on style or functionality. You can transform your small bathroom into a visually appealing and highly functional oasis with thoughtful planning and clever design choices. In this article, we'll explore a range of strategies to help you make the most of your compact bathroom renovations in Perth.

**1. Prioritise Smart Storage

- Vertical Storage: Install shelves or cabinets that extend vertically to utilise wall space efficiently. It keeps essential items within reach without cluttering the limited floor area.

- Floating Vanities: Opt for wall-mounted vanities to create an illusion of more space underneath. It allows for easy cleaning and gives the bathroom an open feel.

- Built-in Niches: Incorporate recessed shelves or niches in your shower or above the toilet to store toiletries and keep surfaces uncluttered.

**2. Opt for Light Colors

- Light-Colored Tiles: Choose light-coloured tiles for the walls and floor to visually expand the space. Light hues reflect more light, making the bathroom more open and airy.

- Monochromatic Palette: Stick to a monochromatic colour scheme for a cohesive look. Different shades of the same colour create depth without overwhelming the senses.

**3. Choose Space-Saving Fixtures

- Compact Fixtures: Select smaller fixtures explicitly designed for tight spaces, such as narrow sinks and corner toilets. It ensures that essential elements don't overpower the room.

- Sliding Doors: Replace traditional swinging doors with sliding doors to eliminate the need for clearance space. It instantly frees up extra room in your bathroom.

**4. Optimise Lighting

- Natural Light: Maximise natural light by using sheer window treatments that allow sunlight to filter through. Natural light creates an open and welcoming atmosphere.

- Illuminated Mirrors: Install mirrors with built-in LED lighting to provide both functional illumination and a sense of depth.

**5. Strategic Mirror Placement

- Mirrored Walls: Consider adding a mirrored wall to double the perceived space visually. This design trick is especially effective in small bathrooms.

- Mirror Cabinets: Choose a medicine cabinet with a mirrored front to combine storage with reflective surfaces.

**6. Create the Illusion of Space

- Large Tiles: Use larger tiles on the floor and walls to create fewer grout lines, making the space feel more expansive.

- Glass Enclosures: Opt for transparent or frosted glass shower enclosures to allow sightlines to continue uninterrupted, creating a sense of openness.

**7. Multi-Functional Design

- Shower-Bathtub Combo: If space allows, consider a shower-bathtub combination. This multi-functional fixture saves space and caters to different needs.

- Foldable Fixtures: Incorporate foldable elements, like drop-down shower seats or collapsible drying racks, to provide functionality without occupying permanent space.

**8. Creative Storage Solutions

- Over-Toilet Shelves: Install shelves above the toilet to utilise vertical space for storing towels, toiletries, and other essentials.

- Tiered Organisers: Utilise tiered organisers in cabinets to maximise vertical storage and keep items easily accessible.

**9. Minimalistic Decor

- Declutter: Keep countertop items to a minimum to maintain a clean and uncluttered appearance.

- Simple Decor: Use minimalistic decor items, such as a single potted plant or wall art, to add personality without overwhelming the space.

**10. Consult with Professionals

- Interior Designers: Seek advice from interior designers experienced in small space design. They can provide tailored solutions to make the most of your bathroom.

- Renovation Contractors: Collaborate with reputable Perth kitchen and bathroom renovations contractors who understand the challenges of small spaces and can execute your vision effectively.

**11. Embrace Open Shelving

- Wall-Mounted Shelves: Consider open shelves that are attached to the walls. These can hold towels, toiletries, and decorative items, adding both storage and a touch of style.

- Glass Shelves: Glass shelves create a sense of openness as they allow light to pass through. They can be placed above sinks or beside mirrors to store essentials.

**12. Integrated Storage Solutions

- Vanity Drawers: Choose vanities with deep drawers that can store various items, from cosmetics to cleaning supplies, keeping the countertop clutter-free.

- Hidden Storage: Incorporate hidden storage behind mirrors or under the sink. These concealed compartments offer functional space without compromising aesthetics.

**13. Consider Multi-Tiered Towel Racks

- Wall-Mounted Towel Racks: Install multi-tiered towel racks on the walls to save floor space while providing ample storage for towels and clothing items.

- Over-Door Towel Hooks: Utilise the back of the bathroom door by adding hooks to hang towels and robes, freeing up wall space for other purposes.

**14. Opt for Minimalist Hardware

- Sleek Handles: Choose sleek and minimalistic handles for cabinets and drawers. These streamline the appearance of the bathroom and prevent visual clutter.

- Wall-Mounted Faucets: Wall-mounted faucets take up less counter space and give a clean look to your bathroom sink.

**15. Customise Your Storage

- Tailored Shelving: Install shelves that fit around existing fixtures, such as pipes and corners. Customised shelving maximises every inch of available space.

- Vertical Storage Towers: Vertical storage towers can be fitted between the sink and toilet or next to the shower, offering designated spaces for various items.

**16. Utilise Baskets and Bins

- Wire Baskets: Hang wire baskets on the walls to store toiletries, washcloths, and other small items. Their open design adds texture and keeps things organised.

- Basket Shelving Units: Use small shelving units with baskets or bins to create organised storage areas that are easy to access.

Conclusion

Renovating a compact bathroom in your Perth apartment might seem challenging. Still, with the right strategies and design choices, you can turn it into a functional and visually appealing space. You can maximise every inch of your bathroom by embracing smart storage solutions, light colours, and space-saving fixtures while creating a sense of openness. Remember, the key is to think creatively and consider the unique needs of your space. With careful planning and attention to detail, your small bathroom can become a comfortable and stylish retreat that perfectly suits your lifestyle.

[connectinterior]

Best Furniture & Plywood  Installation Services in Karnataka - Connect Interior 

Connect Interior Crockery Units are made of Plywood or Particle Board in fixed as well as they have customized sizes as per the desire of the customer to give them versatile storage comfort and make it easier for them to manage the whole stuff of glassware. Fabricate the finishing touch of your dining area with a different kind of sharp, good-looking, and useful crockery unit made of glass, solid wood, MDF, etc.   Our Crockey Installations Services More Visit here - https://www.connectinterior.com/search/all/4-installer

[urbangaffa]

Find a skilled carpenter in your area to tackle your next project, big or small! From building shelves to fixing that creaky door, they've got you covered. Get quotes today! For more information:- https://www.urbangaffa.com/category/s/local-carpenter

[reviewtv]

Local Boston Contractors Share Their Expertise: Insights into the City's Unique Construction Challenges

When it comes to construction in Boston, there are unique challenges that only local contractors can truly understand. From navigating the city's historic preservation laws to managing logistics in tight urban spaces, local contractors have a wealth of expertise to share.

One of the biggest challenges in Boston is the city's historic architecture. Many buildings are protected by strict preservation laws, which can make renovations and updates a complex and time-consuming process. Local contractors are intimately familiar with these laws and can help navigate the often-complicated process of obtaining necessary permits and approvals.

Another challenge is the city's limited space. With so many buildings crammed into a relatively small area, construction sites can be tight and logistics can be difficult to manage. Local contractors have experience working in these tight spaces, and can help ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.

Overall, hiring a local contractor in Boston can be a smart choice for anyone undertaking a construction project in the city. Their unique expertise and local knowledge can help ensure a successful outcome.

[funfacts09]

Top 5 local contractors in Boston - who you can trust with your next project

If you're looking for a local contractor in Boston, it can be overwhelming to choose from the countless options available. To help make your decision easier, we've compiled a list of the top 5 local contractors in the area.

AMS Renovations: Known for their exceptional attention to detail and customer service, AMS Renovations is a top choice for home renovations in Boston.

Rite Window: Specializing in window and door installations, Rite Window has a reputation for quality workmanship and affordability.

Michael O'Brien Custom Carpentry: With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Michael O'Brien Custom Carpentry offers personalized and high-quality services for all your home improvement needs.

Keystone Construction & Design, Inc.: This family-owned business prides itself on its commitment to customer satisfaction and efficient project management.

Bostonian Remodeling, Inc.: Bostonian Remodeling is a full-service contracting company that offers everything from kitchen and bathroom renovations to whole-house remodeling projects.

By choosing one of these trusted local contractors in Boston, you can be confident that your home renovation project is in good hands.

[ordinary-barbie]

give me more than just butterflies. jean x reader

summary: you and Jean have been dating for a few months now and you’re thinking about how good a dad he would be someday. maybe, just maybe… title is from "juno" by sabrina carpenter.

tags: jean x fem!reader, mentions of pregnancy, lots of fluff, oral (m and f receiving), pet names (babe and baby), slight breeding/pregnancy kink, jean and reader are in their late 20s here

minors and ageless DNI! 18+ only, please.

Dating Jean Kirstein made you feel like you'd won the lottery.

Obviously, he was an absolute dreamboat looks-wise. You loved his tall, muscular build, soft ash-brown hair and light brown eyes, not to mention a smile that could rival the sun in wattage. In another life, he could make a killing as an Abercrombie model.

However, it's his personality that really made you fall for him. He's impossibly sweet and kind yet has a strong sarcastic streak you love. He adores you, of course, but also loves his friends (even though Sasha and Connie in particular drive him nuts sometimes) and would do anything for his mama. Of course Jean wasn't perfect; he had his flaws, but when it comes to boyfriends, you couldn't see how you could do any better.

You and Jean had been dating for almost a year now. You'd met him through Hinge; dating apps had always seemed a bit scary to you, but one of your best friends convinced you to put yourself out there. You were charmed by his witty answers to his profile prompts and very attracted to his pictures. It turned out that he was utterly charming even through text, and after one date at a local Italian restaurant Jean adored, you were absolutely smitten (and the feeling was mutual). The two of you have been dating for nine months now, in absolute bliss.

Life was good right now, but your mind couldn't help drifting to thoughts of the future, especially after you and Jean went to see his best friend Marco's new baby boy. Callum was an absolute cutie, with his dad's dark brown hair and nose but his mom's bright blue eyes.

"Hey babe, could you get a pic of me with Cal?" Jean asked. He had Callum perfectly cradled in his arms and you just about melted at the sight. Jean looked so at peace holding the baby, like this was second nature to him. You quickly took your phone out of your pocket and took a candid snap of your boyfriend lovingly gazing at the baby, then another one where he looked directly at the camera, smiling softly.

Jean passed Callum back to Marco's wife Adelaide, then peeked over your shoulder to see the photos you took. "These are perfect," he said, beaming. "Thanks, baby."

Marco and Adelaide hurried over to see the photos and "aww"ed over them, making Jean's cheeks flush with pink. "It's amazing how much the guy who used to shotgun whipped cream in high school looks like a dad here," Marco joked.

You snickered, but after the laughter subsided, you couldn't help but agree with Marco. Jean looked so comfortable with Callum; if anyone didn't know any better, they'd think Jean was posing with his own son.

The image of Jean holding Marco's son stayed in your mind for days after that visit. You'd been on the fence about having kids, not sure if you wanted to go through the whole ordeal of pregnancy or if you'd even make a halfway-decent mother. But seeing Jean cradling a baby had stirred a desire in you. Maybe having a kid wouldn't be so bad...especially if it was with Jean.

You were nowhere near ready to have a kid right now, but the idea of having a baby with Jean somewhere down the line was sounding more and more appealing. Jean was pretty much the hottest person alive, and it would be cool if some baby was lucky enough to get some of his genes. The only issue was actually telling your desired baby daddy. What if he got scared off by you already dreaming of having kids with him? You hadn't even been together for a year yet. You decided to squash that dream of yours for the moment, not wanting to freak him out.

You were in bliss. Jean had come over to watch Howl's Moving Castle ("It's a crime that you haven't seen it!" you insisted), but as soon as the credits started rolling, he'd pulled you onto his lap and pressed soft, slow kisses to your neck. You sighed, happily, grinding yourself against Jean and making him gasp.

"Babe, watch it," he spoke in a strained voice. "If you keep doing that, I'm gonna go crazy, and I don't think I have a condom with me."

You were so horny you couldn't think straight. "I don't care, you can finish inside me," you blurted out.

Jean flushed bright red, saying your name with a gasp. "Um, while I would love to do that, I'm not tryin' to get you pregnant right now. I know you're on the pill, but better safe than sorry, you know?"

Jean's words tugged at your heartstrings. What a man! He could be so anxious when it came to sex at times, but you knew it was because he deeply cared for you and wanted to make sure you were happy and safe. And he was right; this would not be the right time to have a baby.

Your hidden thought popped back into your head. Fuck it, why not just tell him? He'd given you the perfect opening. "I appreciate that, Jean. But one day I do want to have kids with you. I don't know when, but I've been thinking about this for a while, and I want you to make me a mom."

When Jean stayed silent for a few moments, you got nervous. Then his eyes started to well up with tears. "Babe, are - are you sure this is what you want? I mean, I'm so down for this, but I know when we first started dating, you were on the fence about children."

You were so relieved that your irrational fears about Jean's reaction hadn't played out. "Yes, I'm sure. I've been sure ever since that day two weeks ago when we met Marco's baby and I took those pictures of you holding him," you answered, your voice shaking with emotion. "I know we haven't even been together a year yet and maybe this is too soon to be talking about this but - I want it. A house and a family, with you."

Jean wrapped his arms around your waist, pulling you closer to him, and peppered your face with kisses. "Babe, I love you so much. I wouldn't want to start a family with anyone else."

"Well I should certainly hope not," you joked, needing to lighten up the moment a little bit. Jean laughed before burying his face into the side of your neck and nuzzling you.

It was a tender moment, interrupted by a particular something poking you in the side. "Jean. Did you really get hard because I told you I want to have your babies one day?" You couldn't help but giggle.

Jean lifted his head from your neck, looking sheepish. "I'm sorry babe. I just pictured you being pregnant and...I guess I got excited."

You lightly punched your boyfriend in the arm, pretending to be scandalized. "Jean Kirstein, you are a pervert!" You couldn't lie that it was a little bit hot that he would still find your pregnant body desirable, to be honest.

Jean smirked at you. "Can't help it. You're gonna be the hottest mom in the neighborhood, baby."

Zing. Jean's words went straight to your core. You lifted yourself off of his lap and sank down to your knees on the floor, looking for permission before you unbuttoned your boyfriend's pants.

"Babe, what are you doing?" he questioned with a chuckle, though there was a dark glint in his eye.

"Well, I was thinking, if we can't have sex right now, we can still do...other stuff. And I figured I’d help take care of your little problem.” You flashed him a coy smile.

Jean groaned before unbuttoning his pants and letting you take his length into your mouth. He moaned your name, looking like he was trying not to bust a nut right then and there.

"What did I do to deserve someone as amazing as you?" Jean asked, his eyes shut with pleasure as you sucked him off and fondled his balls. You giggled before pulling your mouth off of him and kissed the tip of his dick, causing Jean to let out a guttural growl.

Before you could return to your blowjob, Jean had joined you on the floor, capturing your lips in a deep kiss before smooching his way down your body.

It was your turn to ask, "Babe, what are you doing?" Even though you knew damn well what was about to happen, and your body tingled with an excited energy.

"It's only fair that I return the favor, babe," Jean said, casually pulling your underwear to the side before diving in like a starving man.

Yep, you'd definitely won the lottery with Jean Kirstein. And you had a feeling that things would get even better once the two of you were actually ready to try for a baby.

[celiastjamesoscar]

Cinnamon Girl

Pairings: Sam Carpenter x fem!reader

Summary: Getting a dog wasn’t the best idea, but Sam grew to love the fur ball when she found out you were the dog’s vet.

Warnings: light cussing, extremely fluffy, and I think that’s it? Let me know if I missed any!

AN: Came from this request! I had so much fun writing this and I hope you love it!!!

If you guys want to join a Taglist, let me know!

My Masterlist

Word Count: 8.6K

It was supposed to be a quick trip to town; Sam needed some chili powder and beans to finish making her chili, and Tara wanted to tag along. Of course, Tara only wanted to go because she could probably convince Sam to get her something, and that definitely happened; it just wasn’t what Sam expected.

As the two sisters were leaving their local grocery store, there was a piece of paper stuck to the bulletin board, and as soon as Sam read it, she knew it was over for her.

“Oh my god, Sam, look!” Tara exclaimed as she walked to the board and pointed at the paper. On it was a blown-up picture of a mother dog and six puppies next to her, and underneath the photo read the words, ‘Puppies for free. Shar Pei and Malinois mix. Need all six gone, or they go to the pound. Text XXX-XXX-XXXX if you are interested.’

“Sam, we have to get one!” Tara said as she pulled out her phone and texted the number. “Absolutely not,” Sam retorted. She would not have a dog in her household that she would have to take care of inevitably.

“Why do you hate me?” Tara asked with a slight frown. She knew that if she played this card, Sam would have no option but to tell her yes. Sam stammered over her words but eventually said yes when she realized she couldn’t tell her little sister no. Tara let out a happy squeal as she texted the number, and as they left the shop and got into Sam’s car, she got a response. “They said we could stop by and look at the puppies right now if we wanted. And, of course, we want to,” Tara decided for her and her sister as she told the stranger that she was on her way. “Tara, we cannot just show up at a stranger’s house,” Sam retorted, and Tara scoffed at her words.

“We aren’t going to show up randomly; we’ve been invited. And besides, you’ve talked about getting a guard dog for a while,” Tara explained as she put in the stranger’s address and told Sam how to get there.

With a small huff, Sam listened to her sister’s directions, and the pair arrived at the stranger’s house within ten minutes. Any fear of this being a murderer’s house quickly disappeared as soon as Sam turned down a road near a golf course, and country club homes were lined up on both sides of the street. It was close to Christmas time, and every single house had Christmas lights hung up. And as the two looked at the lights, they both guessed that each house paid more for those lights and decorations than they made in a year combined. ‘It’s just October,’ Sam thought to herself as she gazed at the houses.

“Some of these houses are insane!” Tara exclaimed as her eyes followed a house with a giant statue of Jack Skellington dressed as Santa, and Sam hated to admit it; it was pretty fucking insane.

As the two drove by that house, the most beautiful and captivating woman Sam had ever seen stepped out of the house wearing scrubs, and she looked like she was in a hurry. A weird feeling shot through Sam’s chest as she drove past the beautiful woman getting in her car, and for the first time in her life, Sam wanted to ask for that lady’s number.

With a shake of her head, Sam continued her drive for another minute before she parked outside the designated house. It was one of the more expensive houses in the area, and when Tara texted the stranger about looking at the puppies, a sweet older woman came out of the front door and approached Sam’s car with a beaming smile and warm personality.

The woman introduced herself as Andrea and led the two sisters in her lavish home. “I know it sounds awful, but we must get rid of these little guys. My daughter, Y/N, lives just up the road from me, and the sweet thing is a vet. So I know she would kill me if I let one of these cute babies go to the wrong people. But you two look like lovely people,” Andrea explained as she led the sisters through her house and into the living room, where a small area had been boxed off as the mother and her pups slept together. “How old are they?” Sam asked as she looked at the puppies and felt her heart warm at the sight of the babies and their squished faces.

“Almost eight weeks; Y/N says that’s good for them to stay with their mother for that long,” Andrea replied as she opened the gate and allowed Sam and Tara to walk in. At the sound of footsteps approaching, a couple of the puppies began to stir, and one walked toward Tara and started to rub its face against the girl’s leg. “Hey, little guy,” Tara said as she squatted down and petted the puppy, “Am I allowed to pick it up?”

“Of course! Look at as many as you like; please wash your hands before you pick up the next one. Y/N’s rules,” Andrea said with a smile. Tara picked up the puppy and giggled when the dog licked her face.

The puppy was a brownish color with some shades of black and the softest ears Tara had ever felt. Along with his soft ears, he had the wrinkliest face of a Shar Pei and the stiff body of a Malinois. He had these brown beady eyes that Reminded Sam of Tara, and as she watched her sister play with the dog, she knew the two would be a handful. The dog might not be the best guard dog in the future, but at least he will keep Tara out of Sam’s hair.

After discussing it with Andrea, the two sisters adopted the dog and wrote down the advice of Y/N. “You know, I seriously think you and my daughter would get along perfectly, Sam,” Andrea stated as she walked toward Sam’s car. The mother was carrying a few bags of soft dog food and a more oversized bag for when he gets bigger, recommendations of Y/N, of course. “Oh, yeah? How come?” Sam questioned as she opened Tara’s door; her sister was carrying the puppy that had now fallen asleep in her arms and shut the door.

“I don’t know. Call it a mother’s intuition, but I know you two would get along,” Andrea replied with an all too-knowing smirk that Sam didn’t pick up on. If she played her cards right, she could finally set her daughter up with someone who wasn’t a psychotic woman who tried to murder people on occasion.

Not that your dating history was terrible; you just preferred women who might try and kill you in your sleep.

“What place does she work at? We’ll need to find him a good place,” Sam asked as she opened the back doors. “She works at Ocean Boulevard, just off of Cornelia Street,” Andrea replied as she placed the bags of dog food in the seat, and Sam closed the door.

“I’ll have to give it a try. Thank you,” Sam said with a smile as she said goodbye to Andrea, got in her car, and drove back home with a new addition to the family. As she drove away, Andrea pulled out her phone and called you, too excited to tell you about the new romantic partner she found for you. She might have been an over-the-top mom and was always trying to set you up with women, but she had a good feeling about this young lady.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sound of soft scratching and whimpering woke Sam up from her peaceful slumber. She groaned as she checked the time and cussed as she saw that it was a quarter past 1. “Warner, come on. We have to go to bed,” Sam heard Tara whisper outside the door, but it was too late; Sam was already getting out of bed.

“Hi,” Tara weakly said with an awkward smile as she held the puppy close to her chest. “What are you doing up?” Sam questioned as she looked between her sister and the dog.

“Warner wanted to come and visit you, and he wouldn’t stop crying until he got to see you,” Tara replied as she held the dog toward her sister. Sam winced when he yawned in her face, and the smell of puppy breath invaded her nostrils. “Well, he got to see me. Now tell him to go back to bed,” Sam commanded as she got back in bed, leaving Tara standing in her doorway.

“But he wants to sleep with you,” Tara spoke for the dog as she sat him on Sam’s bed. And sure enough, he walked toward Sam and made himself at home on the woman’s chest.

With a small huff, Sam allowed the dog to sleep on top of her while Tara climbed into her bed. “Not you, too,” Sam groaned, but Tara shushed her and quickly fell asleep.

As the minutes ticked by, thoughts of regret plagued her, but she was glad to see her sister this happy. And who knows, maybe she was about to meet the vet daughter Andrea was talking about.

Almost like a prayer, not even a week after Sam went to bed with the thought of you, she had to take Warner to the vet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Sam came home from work, she only wanted to relax, drink some wine, and watch a movie or two. But all that came crashing down when she returned to a crying Tara sitting on the floor holding a more than excited Warner. “Oh my god, Sam! Thank god you’re finally home!” Tara exclaimed through tears as Warner wiggled out of her arms and came prancing toward Sam.

“What’s wrong, Tara?” Sam worriedly asked as she dropped her bag and went to Tara’s side. “Warner ate one of my Legos!” Tara shouted as she picked up the dog and placed a loving kiss on his head. Warner then tried to lick Tara and whined when she dodged it. The puppy seemed ignorant to the crying girl who feared for his life, and all he wanted to do was lick Sam and Tara.

“He seems fine,” Sam coldly replied, but when Tara gave her a death glare, Sam stood up and grabbed her back, “Alright, let’s take him to the vet then.”

The car ride to the vet was silent as Tara tried to calm down while Warner happily licked the more petite girl’s hands. It might sound stupid to most, but taking care of Warner meant that Tara could actually care for herself in her own eyes. She believed that if she kept the dog alive and gave him a long and happy life, she could also have that same life.

“I think he’s fine,” Sam stated but quickly regretted her words when Tara smacked her arm, and she swore she heard Warner do his dog version of a laugh. Sam could not wait until they got to the vet just to prove to her sister that the dog was perfectly fine.

And Sam also hoped that you would be there as well. Not that she was particularly interested in meeting Andrea’s daughter, but she wanted to see if you actually lived up to your mother’s kind words about you. And when Sam met you, she knew that Andrea was right, and then some, as the Latina could not pull her eyes away from you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It had been a prolonged day at the clinic today, nothing too crazy except for the occasional ‘help, my dog swallowed a mysterious item.’

“If I had a dollar for every time someone came in here because their dog swallowed something they weren’t supposed to, I would be rich!” Your coworker, Noah, exclaimed. You two have known each other for years, as you went to high school together, and both decided that you two wanted to go to veterinary school together as well. The two of you got along so well because you both never dated in the same pool of people.

“I feel your pain, but the night is still young, and I bet you that we will have another one,” you replied as you rolled over to his desk in your chair. “Are you seriously playing Solitaire right now?”

Noah scuffed at your question as he continued his game on the computer. “Yes, I am, thank you very much. And I am quite good at it; I shall have you know,” he sassed back before turning his attention away from his game and looking at you, “Your mother told me that she had found someone for you. Is it true?”

You sighed as you leaned back in your chair and threw your back. “Dude, you have no idea. She called me as soon as she met this woman. She went on this long-ass tangent about how I seriously need to give this woman a chance because ‘she had the softest brown eyes and held all the warmth I would need,’” you finished with a quote from your mother.

“She sounds like a real charmer,” Noah replied, “But seriously, how much should we trust your mother’s opinion? You remember the last girl she set you up?” At the mention of your last relationship, you shuttered. “Yeah, let’s not bring that up again. And besides, when did this turn into a ‘we’ thing?”

Noah scoffed at your words that cut him deep. “We have a bond, you and I. We shared a room on our trip to Italy because the group wanted to ‘contain the gayness’ so no one would contract it. That’s a bond that doesn’t break!” He exclaimed with a smile. “Being for real, though, You’re my best friend, and I want what’s best for you, even if that means having to butt heads with your mother from time to time.”

I know,” you said with a sigh, “I mean, at least she’s making an effort. Even if she sets me up with crazy ass women.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” Noah joked as he returned to his solitaire game while you stood up. “You know, I kinda want to meet this woman. Just to prove to my mom that all the women she tries to get me with are absolutely insane,” you joked as you grabbed your telescope and put it around your neck while leaving the reception area.

Just when you started to walk into the back room to check on the animals that were staying overnight, the front door opened, and the bell rang. “Your turn to get it,” Noah stated while making no effort to check to see who was at the door.

You huffed at his words while walking toward the front door, and your breath hitched in your throat. Standing before was the most beautiful woman you had ever seen, and she wore a tight, long-sleeve shirt that hugged her muscular arms perfectly. The shirt was also tight on her torso area so that you could see the faintest of an outline of her abs. And those eyes, you swore that they were the softest eyes you had ever seen, big and brown and enticing. All you wanted to do was get lost in them, but your mind was quickly pulled out of the gutter when a more petite woman stepped out from behind the alluring woman while holding a small puppy in her arms.

“My dog swallowed a Lego!” The girl exclaimed while walking closer to you, and you threw an evil glance at Noah when he chuckled at the girl’s statement. “Alright, let’s see what I can do for it. May I?” You politely asked with a smile while holding out your arms. The girl was hesitant initially, but after a slight nudge from the taller woman, she reluctantly handed you the puppy.

“Follow me,” you said while walking down the hallway and opening up a door to a room. You placed the dog on the metal table, and he automatically curled up into a ball and closed his eyes. “I’m going to need you to fill out these papers while I get the ultrasound set up and ready to go,” you stated while putting some paperwork on a clipboard with a pen and handing it to the more petite girl, as she seemed to be the one who cared about the animal the most.

While you got the ultrasound ready, you couldn’t help but feel eyes on you, and when you met them, you gave the taller woman the softest smile, and Sam felt her heart melt. When she first got here, Sam noticed your badge, and her heart did flips when she saw that it said ‘Y/N L/N,’ and Sam prayed that you were the daughter of Andrea.

“Here you go,” Tara said while handing you the clipboard, and you told her thank you as you took it from her. “‘Warner?’ That’s an odd name for a dog,” you stated as you looked over the sheets for the dog.

“Yeah, I named him after my favorite book character,” Tara replied embarrassedly as her eyes looked bashfully at the floor.

“Please tell me you did not name your dog after Aaron Warner,” you deadpanned as you stared at the girl.

A few beats of silence passed before she admitted, “Yes, I did.” You chuckled as you set the clipboard down and turned on the ultrasound machine. “I’m going to ignore what you just said,” you joked with a smile, and Sam had to fight back the feeling of jealousy that stirred in her chest.

“Okay, so I’m going to do an ultrasound on Warner’s stomach to see the location of the Lego, and then, depending on its location, I will be able to tell the best course of action. Is that alright with you?” You asked as you sat in your chair and rolled over the metal table.

“Yeah, that’s fine with me,” Tara replied as she walked over to the table and gently ran a hand down Warner, causing the dog to open his eyes and yawn.

A few minutes passed while you performed the ultrasound, and when you found the object in the puppy’s stomach, you pointed to it on the screen. “You can see the object right here. Now, he will be able to pass it just fine; giving him cooked asparagus will help him have bowel movements, and he should secrete it in a couple of days,” you explained as you turned off the machine and rubbed the dog’s head for good measure.

“Thank you so much,” Tara replied as she picked up the dog. “It’s no problem,” you replied while opening the door and motioning for the sisters to follow you to the front desk.

“Just come back in a week's time for a checkup, and I can do his routine checkup as well,” you stated while filling out a business card with your number and the clinic's address, and you handed it to Sam. When she took the card, her fingers brushed against yours, and you both felt a spark shoot through your fingertips and quickly spread throughout your bodies. Both of your heartbeats quickened and matched in rhythm, both of you too shocked to say anything for a few moments.

‘Umm… How much do I owe you?” Sam eventually asked after she put your card in her wallet. Realizing that you were still at work and needed to take money from this woman, you hated your job at that moment. “You don’t owe me anything,” you offered with a smile as you printed off the receipt for Sam.

A small laugh escaped Sam’s lips as she started to pull out her credit card, but you quickly placed your hand on the woman’s wrist, stopping her movements. “I’m serious; you don’t owe me anything. Consider this pro bono,” you said as you gave Sam’s wrist a gentle squeeze and a loving smile.

The feeling of your hand on her wrist gave Sam wartime she didn’t need, and she felt her heart rip apart when you pulled away after keeping your hand on her for a second too long. “I can’t let you do that,” Sam stated as she shook her head and handed you her card, and you accepted it only to hand it back with a smile. “Consider this a treat, and you can repay me by coming back next week for a check-up,” you reasoned.

A few moments of silence passed as you had a silent battle with Sam, but eventually, she surrendered and put her card away. “Are you sure?” Sam asked one last time; she hated having to be in people’s doubt, as it seemed that they held something over her head. But the thought of being in your doubt didn’t sound bad for some unknown reason.

“Oh yeah, I’m positive,” you responded as you followed the sisters toward the door and held it open for them. She didn’t know why, but Sam wanted to introduce herself to you. It might be because you just waived her undoubtedly costly vet bill or because she found herself attracted to you.

“Well, thank you. Seriously. I don’t know how I could ever repay you,” Sam said while sticking her hand toward you, “I’m Sam, by the way.”

‘You can repay me by letting me take you on a date,’ you helplessly thought but said, “It’s nice to meet you, Sam. I’m Y/N,” while shaking the woman’s hand.

Her rough hands felt heavenly against yours, and you could feel her strength as she tried her best to treat your hand with gentleness, something she wasn’t used to. You found yourself getting lost in her chocolate eyes, and you questioned how thieves bothered with petty art while her eyes existed; they seemed priceless to you.

An awkward throat cleared beside you, and you quickly dropped Sam’s hand while Tara looked between you and her sister. “Well, it was nice meeting you, Dr. Y/N, but me and my sister have to go,” Tara commented with an evil smirk; she could not wait to interrogate her sister about her tense exchange of names with you.

“I’ll see you next week, yeah?” You asked the girls, but in reality, you were only talking to Sam. “Of course,” Sam responded with a smile as her eyes quickly checked you from head to toe before leaving the clinic with her sister.

Once they had left the building, an arm was flung around your neck, and Noah pulled you against his body, “What did I just witness?”

“Nothing, just a friendly exchange,” you replied as you shoved Noah off you and sat at the reception desk. “Bullshit. You never offer free stuff because it will come out of your paycheck. And you and I both know that was over 500 dollars,” Noah retorted while standing over your shoulder.

“I know that.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“Because I felt like it was a nice thing to do.”

“Nuh-uh. You just saw a pretty woman and instantly fell to your knees. You disgust me,” Noah joked with a disgusted face. “Oh, like you haven’t done worse. Remember that Tinder guy? You had made me drive you an hour to where he lived so we could stalk him at work!” You exclaimed as you recalled the memory.

“That wasn’t my fault! I needed to know if I was being catfished! And I was!” Noah defended, but after a few moments, he decided to let it go; he knew he would never win an argument with you.

“Mhm, that’s what I thought,” you smugly said as you began writing down notes on Warner, and once you were done, you checked the time and stood up. “Alright, it's time for me to clock out. I’ll see you later, Noah,” you stated while grabbing your belongings and walking toward the front door.

“I’ll see you,” Noah called out with a wave of his hand while you disappeared outside.

The drive back to your apartment was a quick one and one filled with the thoughts of Sam. You knew it was stupid, but you couldn’t help but feel an undeniable attraction to the woman you had just met. Based on the details your mother had given you about the woman she told you about, you knew that this was the woman she mentioned. Those big, brown eyes and soft smile, you were head over heels for that woman. And unbeknownst to you, she is also head over heels for you as well.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“What the fuck was that?” Tara questioned as soon as they got into Sam’s car. “Hmm? I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sam guiltily replied. She had hoped that her sister wouldn’t have picked up on her unmistakable fascination with you, but Tara knew Sam like the back of her scarred hand.

“Yes, you do. Why did you feel it was necessary to introduce yourself to her? You hate it when people know your name, especially strangers,” Tara challenged. She would get an answer from Sam, whether the woman wanted to admit it or not.

With a small sigh, Sam started the car and drove toward the apartment before answering, “I just felt like it was needed since she paid for the bill. Nothing else.”

“Mhmmmmm,” Tara replied as she studied her sister. She knew Sam was lying, but she wouldn’t press her for more information. Not now, at least.

Sam was grateful that Tara didn’t press on anymore, and she enjoyed the silence as she hoped she would be the one to bring Warner back to the vet. She found comfort in your soft and calloused hands, and for the first time in her life, she wanted to be held by someone. And if you had her without hurting her, you would be the first who ever did.

Sam knew it was crazy to feel this way toward someone she had just met not even an hour ago, but there was an undeniable spark that you both felt when your hands met. And she was pissed that she had to wait a week to see you again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That week was the slowest and most dreadful week of Sam’s life. Work sucked, and she had to work doubles almost daily, but she vowed to repay you for the vet bill. She thought about inviting you over for dinner to repay you, but she figured that you would want actual money instead of a nice, home-cooked meal where the secret ingredient was love and yearning.

Only when it was time to take Warner to the vet did she get out of bed with excitement, threw on a tank top that showed a little bit of her belly, and put on her trusty bomber jacket over it.

“Alright, Tara. I’m taking Warner to the vet,” Sam called out as she picked up the puppy and grabbed his leash. Warner started getting a little bit bigger now, but he was still small enough for Sam to hold him with one arm.

“What? I thought I was taking him?” Tara confusingly asked as she exited her room and frowned when she saw Sam heading toward the door. “And why are you so eager to take him?”

“I’m not; I just want to get this over with. And you can’t take him because you have your English paper due tonight,” Sam reasoned, even though she wanted to take Warner to see you again.

“Are you sure you don’t want to take him because you want to see the pretty vet lady again?” Tara questioned with a playful smirk and thought, ‘Got ya,’ when Sam quickly scoffed and automatically denied the accusation.

“Why would I want this little shit to the vet just to see someone? That’s absurd,” Sam denied as she grabbed her purse backpack, put it on her back, and opened the door. “But I’ll pick you up some food on my way back.”

Tara knew what that translated: don’t tell the twins, and I’ll give you some ‘hush food.’

“Sounds good! Be nice, Sam. And remember: don’t be silly, wrap your Willy,” Tara joked with a smirk while she walked back into her room and shut her door.

“I don’t need to wrap my Willy, do I, Warner?” Sam asked once she left the apartment and rubbed the dog’s chin. Warner responded with a small yelp while licking Sam’s fingers, agreeing with Sam in his way. “Come on, little guy. Let’s get you to the pretty vet lady,” Sam told Warner while walking toward her car.

She opened her door and sat him on the passenger seat, and naturally, he curled up into a ball and went to sleep. It amazed Sam how much the little shit slept; she was positive he slept at least 14 hours a day and was only awake to torment her. But Sam couldn’t say anything to Tara about it, as she believed Warner was the sweetest little guy out there. The two had that in common: both being little guys who were absolute devils when left by themselves. Sam had lost count of how many shoes he had destroyed, and she also lost count of how many fights Tara started with literal children on Roblox. It was safe to say that Sam was constantly busy between the two, and she only wanted to relax with you.

When Sam arrived at the clinic, she put Warner on his leash, held him just for a safe measure, and walked inside. “Hello, Warner is here for his check-up,” Sam said once she reached the reception desk. “Okay, Doctor Y/N is finishing up an orchiectomy, and then she’ll be right out. You two can have a seat right there while you wait,” the receptionist politely stated as she motioned to the waiting area.

Sam told the lady ‘thank you’ and sat in one of the chairs and Warner in her lap. She’d rather die than let the shit step foot on the ground for even a second, and she was grateful when he went to sleep. Several minutes passed while Sam tried to calm her mysterious nerves, and her phone vibrated, and she scoffed when she read the text message.

Tara: How’s it going with lover girl??

Sammy 👻: Waiting for her to get done chopping the nuts off a dog. Why?

Tara: Ummmm because you seemed way too eager to take Warner to the vet this morning

Sam’s phone vibrated with another message, but she didn’t get to read it when her head instantly shot up when she heard your soft, angelic voice. “Alright, make sure he keeps his cone on and doesn’t do anything too crazy,” you told an old woman who held her dog close to her chest. “Oh, I will, sweetie. Thank you so much,” the old woman replied with a voice that spoke with years of knowledge.

Sam watched as you held the door open for the woman before you turned to Sam, and when your eyes made contact, a giant smile grew on your face. “Where’s the sister?” You asked with a lovesick grin as you walked to Sam and stopped before the sitting woman. “She stayed home. Had a lot of homework to do,” Sam replied as she stood up and held Warner close to her chest. The dog started to wake up, and he whimpered with excitement when he saw you and began to squirm out of Sam’s hold to get to you.

“Hey, little guy,” you said softly as you reached out toward the dog, and Sam eagerly handed him over to you. You gave Warner scratches behind his eye, and he tried to lick your hand in ‘thank you.’ “You can follow me,” you told Sam as you began walking down a hallway and opened a door to an examining room.

Sam sat down in the corner of the room while you sat Warner on the examining table and rolled your chair over to the table. “How has he been since his last visit?” You asked as you put on gloves. “He’s been fine other than being a little shit most of the time,” Sam responded with a slight chuckle as her phone started to blow up with chain messages from Tara.

A small gasp left your lips as you pretended to be shocked, and you tried your best to ignore Sam’s phone. And your heart pinged with jealousy at the thought of someone calling Sam their girlfriend. You covered Warner’s ears and kissed his head, “Don’t listen to her. I bet you’re the sweetest thing ever.” The Latina scoffed at your words, but she enjoyed seeing how Warner loved you and the attention you gave him. She found comfort in that you could display such love for an animal and hoped that one day you could show her the same passion.

“Alright, little guy. Let’s start your exam,” you stated as you gave Warner’s head one final pat before grabbing your stethoscope and putting it in your ears. Sam’s phone continued to receive messages, and you couldn’t take it anymore, and you had to know.

“You got a boyfriend?” You asked while your eyes darted between Sam and her phone, which vibrated with text messages while you held the end of the stethoscope to Warner’s heart.

“Why? You wanna ask me out on a date?” Sam joked with a smile as she tried to hide her nervousness and turned on ‘do not disturb’ on her phone. She had no idea why you would ask her that question unless it pertained to her phone, which was being assaulted with chain messages from Tara.

“Maybe. Do you have a boyfriend?” You questioned with a flirtatious smile as your eyes scanned Sam’s muscular body, and your mind was instantly filled with the thoughts of you and her tangled in bedsheets. You moved the scope to Warner's lungs as you tried to return to reality.

“No,” Sam replied as she raised her eyebrow, trying to see what angle you were playing at.

“You never told me your last name,” you observed while listening to Warner’s breathing with your stethoscope.

“Why do you want to know my last name?” Sam asked with a nervous chuckle, hoping that you didn’t know her name from the Subreddits that accused her of the 2022 Woodsboro murders or that you didn’t read Gale Weathers’ latest book that called her a born killer and mentally unstable.

“Because I want to know what my future last name will be,” you confidently stated with a smirk as your mischievous eyes met Sam’s soft ones. You set down the stethoscope and then placed your hands on Warner’s stomach.

“Moving a bit quick, aren’t we?” The Latina pointed out after a few seconds. Tension filled the air with every second that passed, and even Warner seemed to pick up on it as his small head darted from you to Sam.

“Maybe, but U-Haul lesbians exist for a reason,” you reasoned as you palpitated Warner’s stomach, checking for abdominal pain or masses.

“I guess so. But seriously, why do you want to know?” Sam pressed on, “It’s Carpenter, by the way.”

You already knew her last name was Carpenter from the paperwork she filled out during the first visit; you just wanted to mess with her a little bit. And also find out if she had a boyfriend in the process.

“Because I would like to take you out to lunch sometime,” you said as your eyes refused to meet Sam’s. Any confidence that you had earlier disappeared when you asked the million-dollar question. “Only if you want to go, of course.”

“I would love to go to lunch with you,” Sam replied with a genuine smile, something she wasn’t used to doing. “Sweet! I’ll, um, I’ll give you my number once I finish up with him,” you embarrassingly said as your eyes met with Sam’s, and you smiled when you saw the excitement in hers.

Once you finished Warner's exam, you told Sam that everything was fine and that he should return next year for his next checkup. As you walked Sam out of the clinic, you pulled out a small notepad from your white lab coat and wrote down your number. “You don’t have to call me or anything, but I would like it if you did,” you told Sam with a smile as you ripped out the paper and handed it to her.

Sam gladly accepted the paper and put it in her jeans pocket, “I’ll text you when I get home, Y/N. It was nice to see you.”

“Yeah, likewise,” you responded as you held the front door open for Sam, and she left with Warner climbing over her shoulder and howling at you, telling you that he was going to miss you.

And true to her word, as soon as Sam stepped foot in her apartment, she set Warner down, and he automatically took off to Tara’s room while she texted you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The two of you talked every day, and you started to have lunch with each other every Friday. You two would talk about your week and your plans for the weekend while also talking about your personal lives. You told Sam everything about your childhood, and in turn, she started to open up more around you.

During your fourth lunch together, Sam opened up completely about her past. She was terrified that she would drive you away and ruin any chance at having a romantic relationship with you when she told you about her schizophrenia, past drug addiction, her biological father, and how she was in the most previous Ghostface attacks in Woodsboro.

“I knew about the attacks, Sam,” you told the woman once she finished speaking, and you gently reached your hand across the table and took one of hers in yours. You traced soft patterns on her hand with your thumb, “Thank you for trusting me enough to open up about them.”

Sam was dumbfounded at this news. She could not believe that you knew about the attacks but said nothing. “How come you didn’t say anything?” Sam deadpanned as her walls started to come up again, but she allowed you to still hold her hand and trace patterns on her skin.

“Because I figured it was something you would want to tell me on your own time or never talk about it,” you honestly replied, and Sam found comfort in your words as you continued, “I’m sorry if I upset you from keeping that from you. I didn’t know how you would react if you knew that I already knew about some things in your past.”

A dry chuckle escaped Sam’s lips, “I honestly probably would have ran if you would have told me.”

“Well, I’m glad I didn’t then,” you responded with a small laugh, and Sam gave your hand a gentle squeeze, grateful that you didn’t rush anything with her or try and force her to talk about her past.

Things between the two of you changed after that lunch; you two would FaceTime whenever you couldn’t see each other, and you would talk on the phone every night just before bed. The feelings you bore for Sam grew even deeper the more you spent time talking to the woman, and her feelings did the same.

Whenever the two of you didn’t have to work the next day, you would stay the night at the Carpenter apartment, and you were even invited to their game nights every Friday night. You quickly bonded with Mindy and Tara, and sometimes, when Sam was at work, they would invite you over for their horror movie night. You would engage in debates with her, and after enough conversations, you earned Mindy’s approval to date Sam, even though she would never tell you that.

Tara was a bit harder to win over, but when Warner would fight out of her grasp and make his way to you and how the little shit would lick your face as you laughed uncontrollably, she knew you were the one for her sister.

Sam was still the hardest to win over, ultimately. Yes, you were on her mind every second of every day, and she fantasized about what it would be like to wake up with you in her arms every morning and call you hers, but she was still scared of commitment. Sam wanted to love you; she needed to love you, but she was also terrified that you would hurt her in the end. And that is the reason Sam is in this current situation.

“Trust me, Sam. Women are crazy; just ask your sister. Finding the right woman is like finding a needle in a pile of needles: it’s impossibly stupid. But luckily, I have the woman of my dreams,” Mindy exclaimed with her hands, adding extra emphasis to her words while Tara nodded along. Mindy had forced Sam to sit down in the living room and lecture her on dating women, and she also had gathered the women of the group to talk to Sam and convince her to ask you out, whether Sam wanted to or not.

“Don’t try and flatter me after you called all women crazy,” Anika dryly stated. “Sorry, love. But anyway. Sam, you have found yourself a woman who is that needle in a needle stack, so you better not let her go!” Mindy shouted, and Sam shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She hated being the center of attention, especially during this current conversion. She had been with a few women before, but she had never dated one. And Sam also hated getting advice from one of the children she used to babysit.

“Alright, fine, I’ll ask her on a date,” Sam defeatedly said as she pulled out her phone and opened up her messages with you, “what the fuck are you doing?” Mindy questioned as she took Sam’s phone away from her.

“I was going to ask her on a date, just like you told me to,” Sam retorted as she reached for her phone, but Mindy held it away.

“Nope. You have to do it in person. Like a big girl.”

“That was not in the agreement. I have to ask our Y/N, and you never told me how.”

“Well, new rule: you have to do it in person!” Mindy exclaimed as Sam scoffed at the younger girl. “Mindy, we should let Sam do it however she wants. The point is that Sam will ask Y/N out, not how she will do it,” Tara reasoned. Mindy hated to admit it, but the little shit was right.

“Alright, fine,” Mindy huffed as she handed Sam her phone back, “But you better not fumble.”

“I’ll try not to,” Sam replied as she typed out her message to you, ‘Would you like to go on a date with me sometime?’ And she eagerly waited for a text message back as her nerves started to grow. Sam was on the verge of texting you and apologizing, but she saw that you had already responded.

Dog whisperer: Of course!! I was starting to wonder when you would finally ask me ;)

Sam 😮‍💨: Haha, very funny. Want to grab some dinner and come back to my place to watch a movie later today?

Dog whisperer: You don’t even have to ask! I’m free around 6

Sam 😮‍💨: Sounds good! I’ll pick you up then.

The smile on Sam’s face was comical as she texted back and forth with you while ignoring the insults being thrown at her by Mindy. She didn’t care; as long as she had you, she would deal with everything with a smile.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The date was excellent; you two went to a fancy restaurant, and you had to restrain yourself as Sam wore a tight, black dress that hugged her body perfectly and displayed her muscular arms. You two joked back and forth throughout the dinner, and when it was time to leave, you went to Sam’s apartment.

Sam gave you some more comfortable clothes to change into, and she did the same. You held the shirt to your nose and breathed in the comforting smell of Sam before you realized how weird that was and changed into the clothing. When you came out of the bathroom and joined Sam on the couch, the Latina lost her breath when she saw you in her clothing, and she couldn’t help but wish she could see you in her clothes all the time.

You guys watched shitty romcoms well into the night, and at some point, you fell asleep with your head in Sam’s lap. Not wanting to make you uncomfortable, Sam carefully stood up and placed a pillow underneath your head while she went to the loveseat couch and slept.

For numerous weeks, you and Sam would spend a couple of evenings a month doing that, and eventually, you worked up the courage to place a loving kiss on Sam’s check after you dropped her off at her apartment one evening.

By this time, it was well into December, and Sam was falling in love with you. You two didn’t put any labels on your relationship, but you both had feelings for each other even though neither of you said anything.

“Would you want to go ice skating with me later today?” You asked Sam as you were in her kitchen and helping her wash dishes. You had been invited over for dinner with the core four plus Anika, and while the rest of the group was in the living room watching a basketball game, you stayed in the kitchen to help Sam clean up.

“I would love to, but I have to warn you; I haven’t ice skated before,” Sam responded with a small laugh as she dried off a plate.

“That’s alright. That just means we will have more fun,” you stated with a smirk as you pulled out a dish from the sink and began rinsing it off. “Yeah, it will be so much fun when I fall on my face,” the raven-haired woman joked as she walked over to you and grabbed a plate with her left hand. A surge of boldness shot through Sam as she placed her right hand on your lower back and kept it there, silently waiting for you to push her hand off you. But when you turned to look at her with that soft smile only reserved for her and your eyes quickly glanced down at her lips, Sam moved her right hand even more, wrapped it around your hip, and pulled you close to her.

“I would love to go with you,” Sam whispered as she kissed your head. Long forgetting about the dishes, you dried your hands off and gently cupped Sam’s cheeks as your heart began to pick up its pace. You could hear your heartbeat in your ears as you slowly brought Sam’s face close to yours, and you could feel her breathing against your lips.

“May I kiss you?” You asked against Sam’s lips, and when you felt her nod, you slowly leaned, and you could feel the outline of her lips against yours when Mindy came stomping into the kitchen.

“Do not make out in front of my ice cream cake, you disgusting perverts!” Mindy exclaimed as you and Sam pulled apart at lightning speed. Sam awkwardly cleared her throat as she watched Mindy take a fork, shove it into the middle of the cake, pull out a ginormous slice, and put it on a plate before disappearing back into the living room, but not before sending you two a playful wink.

A few beats of silence passed before you cleared your throat, “So, about that ice skating?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On New Year’s Eve night, you took the group to go ice skating at Rockefeller Center. To say that the trip was a disaster would be an understatement. From Tara skating around like Tonya Harding and then purposely tripping small children that got in her way, to Mindy and Chad refusing to leave the guard rails while Anika tried to pry Mindy away from them.

“Come on, Sam. It’s not that bad,” you stated as you pushed off the rails and skated a few paces away from Sam before making your way back to the woman. “Shut the fuck up,” Sam whispered as her legs started to wobble. Ice skating was something she hated, and she hated you for convincing her to do it.

“Sam, I will hold you up the entire time, I promise,” you declared as you stood in front of her and placed your hands on her hips, “Just do one lap with me and we can call it quits.”

“I fucking hate you, you know that?” Sam whispered but she allowed you to guide her away from the rails. “I know you do,” you replied with a gentle smile as you skated backward while facing Sam. You had never skated backward before, but you would do anything for Sam, and your smile grew even larger when the woman placed her hands on your shoulder and pulled herself closer to you.

The first lap went like a breeze, and Sam was starting to get the hang out of it. She even felt confident enough to have you skate beside her and you two held hands as you went around another lap. You were getting ready to ask Sam to be your girlfriend when she hit a small bump on the ice and started to fall.

“I got you,” you stated as you gripped her forearms and pulled her back to her feet and steadied her. When Sam was finally stable on her feet, she felt her heart burst as she looked at your love struck eyes and hearty smile. “Thank you,” was all she managed to mutter before large shouting echoed throughout the area.

“Ten! Nine! Eight!”

You and Sam looked around and you saw that the ball was about to drop, and you pulled Sam closer to you. Sam smiled as she realized that she might have her first New Year’s kiss with someone she wanted forever and she refused to give that opportunity up.

“Am I allowed to kiss you?” Sam asked as she got closer to you. “You don’t have to ask,” you replied while Sam cupped your cheeks and you gripped her waist and pulled her body against yours.

“Three! Two! One!”

When the crowd reached one and the ball dropped, you sealed the New Year with a kiss from your Sammy. And that kiss contained the promise of years to come.

“Alright now. Break it up you two,” Tara joked as she skated over to you and you placed a quick kiss on Sam’s lips before pulling away. “Is everyone ready to go?” You asked with cheeks that were crimson red as Sam dropped her hands from them and you let go of her waist.

“Yeah, I think so,” Tara responded and you left the area with the group. You and Sam allowed the rest to walk a few paces in front of you, giving you two some privacy to talk. “So,” you said while lacing your fingers with Sam’s and pulling her into your side, “Would you like to officially be my girlfriend?”

Sam squeezed your hand three times and kissed your lips before responding, “I’ll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year’s Day.”

Sam tried to push you out and keep you at arm’s length, but you just found your way back in. There were so many things she wanted to say to you, like that you were the first person to hold her without me, but Sam waited until later that night to show you just how much you meant to her.

[tradecomgrouproofingservices]

The Art of Carpentry: Finding Reliable Contractors in Australia for Your Next Project

Carpentry is an art form that requires a great deal of skill, precision, and attention to detail. Whether you are looking to build a new home, renovate an existing one, or make some upgrades, finding the right contractor for your project can be challenging. In Australia, there are many talented carpenters and contractors to choose from, but how do you know which one is right for your project? 

The following are some of the factors you should consider when searching for the best carpentry contractors in Australia for your next project-

Area of Expertise: First, it's important to understand the different types of carpentry. Some carpenters specialise in residential work, while others focus on commercial projects. There are also those who specialise in certain areas of carpentry, such as cabinetry, flooring, or framing. When selecting a contractor, it's essential to consider their expertise and ensure they have experience in the type of work you are looking for.

Reputation: Another important factor to consider is the contractor's reputation. An excellent way to get a sense of their reputation is to ask for references from past clients. You can also check online reviews and ratings, such as those on  Google, Yahoo or other business listing websites. If a contractor has a high rating and positive feedback, it's a good sign that they are reliable and deliver high-quality work.

Cost: It's also important to have a clear understanding of the scope of work and the budget for your project. When you meet with the contractor, discuss your expectations, and get a detailed quote. This will help you avoid surprises and ensure that both parties are on the same page. You should also ensure that the contractor has insurance and is licensed to work in your area.

In conclusion, carpentry is a beautiful and complex craft requiring great skill and expertise. When looking for a contractor, consider their experience, reputation, and references. Also, take the time to have a clear understanding of the scope of work and budget for your project, and choose someone you feel comfortable working with. With these tips, you'll be well to find suitable local carpenters near you for your next carpentry project.

[honorarysimp]

2: Coffee is the Answer to Everything

series masterlist

This is the single thought that goes through your mind as you exit the hotel early the next morning. Showered, dressed in a fresh set of clothes, and a freshly brewed cup of coffee in hand. You take a deep breath of the crisp morning air, savoring the feeling of waking up rested and ready to start the day.

Looking around, you realize the town isn’t as gothic horror as the late night arrival had made it seem. The buildings in town are fairly nice and well together, the houses could use a bit of external love and maintenance but clearly lived in.

With a purposeful stride, you headed towards the sheriff's station, which was a short walk away down the empty streets.

Perk of a small town.

As you approach, you do noticed the town does seem slightly ominous in the pale light of the early morning, or maybe it’s just the lack of towns people wandering about.

Charming.

You step into the sheriff's station, footsteps echoing off the linoleum floor.

An officer who’d been sat at her desk stands, setting the folder in her hands down on the wooden top and makes her way over.

As she approaches, she seems to radiate authority and a cautious nature. Her gaze is steely and her expression was one of guarded skepticism.

"Can I help you?" she asks in a brisk tone, her eyes roaming over you with an assessing look.

“I’m the Private Investigator hired and sent out here to help with-“

“Right. The city slicker” she cuts you off, dark brown eyes cutting into your soul.

You only hum, not necessarily offended. This isn’t your first time with small town folk, they’re the careful type with strangers, even more so after some of their people have gone missing.

“The sheriff around?” You ask, she doesn’t immediately offer a response as she turns to head back to her desk.

“Did he at least leave anything for me to go over?” You try again, sipping your coffee to hope it helps with the slight cotton mouth you have. It doesn’t.

“He’s out with a few other deputies doing another sweep of the woods, should be back soon” she says as she grabs a few files off her desk, turning to you expectantly.

She definitely is the “all-business no play” type, so you quickly walk over to accept the files from her.

But as you reach for them, she pulls them just out of your grasp, “these don’t leave this building, understand?”

You narrow your eyes, squaring your shoulders “look officer-“ you glance down to her nametag stitched into her uniform, “Carpenter. I’m not a goddamn rookie alright? I’m here for the same reason you are, we don’t have to be friends, we just have to find your people.”

Her eyes narrow, top lip twitching as if she’s going to rebuttal. Instead she cools her expression and shoves the files into your chest, making you stumble a step back and let out a surprised grunt.

“Don’t talk to me like you know me, you wanna help? Go back where you came from.”

And with that, she heads off further into the station. You take in a slow, calming breath, jaw muscle twitching as you clench your teeth and exhale.

With no guidance and no one to talk to, you head for one of the more empty desks and set yourself up.

You shuffle through the stack of files, flipping through them quickly to get a sense of the information contained within. The reports were detailed and thorough, listing each victim's name, age, occupation, and the last known sighting of each individual before they disappeared.

As you go over the files, you can’t help but feel a sense of unease. The town's history was steeped in superstition and folklore, and the disappearances fit the unpredictable pattern of those stories a little too well.

It might be damn near impossible to convince these people of a logical explanation, if and when one is found.

You pause as you notice a name appearing repeatedly in the files: Ghostface.

It was the name of a local urban legend, a specter that supposedly haunted the town and was blamed for the disappearances.

The name sent a chill down your spine. You’d heard of the legend before taking the case, of course, but seeing the name in every single report made it feel a little uncomfortably possible. In theory.

So focused on reading the reports, you fail to notice the front door opening and someone entering. It wasn't until a voice spoke up that your attention is pulled away from studying them.

"You aren't my sister," the voice said, making you turn your head to see a woman standing in the doorway “is Sam here?”

She’s pretty. Unfairly pretty. She has to be young, mid 20’s if anything, her hair a neat tangle of brown curls that framed her sharp facial features. She assess you almost exactly how the officer from earlier had, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as she stared at you with a look of wariness mixed with curiosity.

You smoothly collect yourself, set the files down on the desk and stand, addressing her with a smile “no I definitely am not, I’m Private Investigator (Y/N)-“

“I didn’t ask, what I did ask was if Sam is here” she cuts you off, and that’s when you realize she also has the same dark brown eyes as the officer from earlier. Now that you’re actually taking a second to observe rather than gawk, you see the similarities.

“She’s in the back” you say as you jut your thumb over your shoulder, she offers nothing and walks right past you.

You watch her go, tongue clicking against the top of your mouth “I definitely see the resemblance.”

Once she’s gone, you sit back at the desk and resume going through the files. Memorizing the locations, going through all the records of every person missing and how they could be connected.

A bit of time passes when your stomach growls, you sigh and rub your eyes as you sit back in your chair, taking a peak at the time on your phone. Damn, noon already?

You hear footsteps behind you, making your ears perk as you hone in on it. Lighter footsteps, an unprompted smile tugs at your lips as your gaze goes up to the ceiling.

“So you’re our saving grace then huh? Big city hot shot?”

You hum as she approaches, head tilting to the left as she leans back against the side of the desk, arms crossed yet again. At least this time her expression seems to be a bit more open, curious if anything.

“It’s always a team effort” you say as you stretch your arms over your head, back popping and making you hum in approval.

She looks at you incredulously, “you, a Detective who’s investigating a multiple missing persons case, aren’t a lone wolf?”

You scoff, not bothering to correct her as your arm drapes over the back of the chair and the other resting on top of the desk, angling your body towards her.

“How stereotypical of you.”

“Me? Please, I’m sure you’re already picking me apart with your own assumptions” she says as she pushes herself off the desk, casually making her way around the front of it.

Again you turn and face forward once more, arms crossing, “unfortunately for you, that’s my job” you say easily, but the look she gives you makes something in you stir.

She lays her palms flat on the desk in front of you, looking down at you with those piercing eyes that seem to read through your carefully constructed exterior.

“Why is it unfortunate?” she questions, head tilting slightly.

You purse your lips, eyes trailing down her arms and back up to her face, “what’s your name.”

The corners of her mouth quirk, but she doesn’t answer. Instead she wraps her knuckles to the top of the desk and then pushes away from it once more, pointing a finger at you.

“My sister is right, you should get lost. Haven’t you heard? The Boogeyman is on the loose” she makes a point of dramatically making jazz hands, turning away from you and heads for the front door.

“Another cliché, telling me to go knowing I won’t” you call after her, and again she says nothing.

But she does offer one last glance at you over her shoulder, a half smile displayed across her face before she slips out the door.

You find yourself staring at the now closed door, a sliver of curiosity picks at the back of your brain but you ignore it.

Just as you look back down at the files, the door opens again, only this time when you look up your expression instantly shifts to something serious.

A man, if his badge and stature didn’t tell me enough of who he is, walks in followed by two deputies that hurry past and further into the station.

“You must be the Detective” the man says, reaching up to take the hat off the top of his head, offering a nod to you, “I’m Sheriff Riley.”

You stand, flattening down your shirt and walking over to him, “pleasure” you return the nod and accept a quick but firm handshake from him “and I’m a Private Investigator, sir, not a Detective.”

He makes a face, “it’s the same thing” he says with a tilt of his head side to side, “I’m gonna assume you’ve brushed up on the files I left you, let me show you what we’ve got so far on the guy we believe responsible.”

As he gestures for you to follow him in the direction all his officers had gone to, you can’t help but mutter “it’s not the same thing.”

previous, next

[studentinpursuitofclouds]

very self indulgent but i keep thinking about this scenario and its so silly, may i request a reader who's been somehow isekai'd (basically transported) into stardew and is proper down bad (or in other words; a massive crush) for magnus?

I have to say, I've never been a fan of isekai (not that I don't like it, I've just never been interested in that genre). But it turned out to be a lot of fun to write about this situation. I hope it didn't come out too mixed, it's just my first time writing stories in this genre. Thank you so much for the ask, anon! 😊💕

_________________________________________

You wake up on the grass near some strange bus stop. No one is around, your head is spinning, and you can't remember what happened. Here you were walking home from a boring job late at night to have dinner, go to bed in your small apartment alone and go to work again and so on until retirement. Suddenly - it's all gone dark and now you're standing outside the bus stop.

Hello, anybody here?

"Oh, you must be [Y/n]!" Finally, at least there's someone around, it's getting lonely and- Wait, how does that red-haired woman know your name?

"I'm Robin, local carpenter. Our mayor asked me to meet you and escort you to your new home!"

New what? Alas, before you could even say anything, the mysterious woman took you to an old ruin that she apparently called "your home".

"Ah, our new farmer!" And who's that old fart? Wha- what farmer?

"Nice to meet you! I'm Lewis, the mayor. Your Grandpa probably have told you about your farm back then".

But I don't... Grandpa's farm? You tried to say something, but you were interrupted again.

"Here's your new home! There is a shipping bin nearby, you can sell your farm products. Welcome and go ahead - get to know your new community!" As you stand there in shock, both strangers walk away.

What the fuck, you thought. Why does everyone think I'm the new farmer? And why did those two bring me to an old house with no furniture except a bed and a TV on the floor? No kitchen? And no toilet??? What the hell do you mean parsnip seeds?! Am I supposed to clear this whole farm of rocks and bushes with a rusty pickaxe and a flooded scythe???

You decide not to panic and play up the situation a bit to figure out where you are and how you can get back home, because the whole thing is a huge misunderstanding. At the same time ask around to the locals, what is this area? Stardew Valley? Huh...

"Playing along with the situation" became a bit more difficult, because you had to really learn the basics of growing crops, the local fisherman gave you an old fishing rod for some damn reason, and then on the fifth day of this hell you have no money left even for food and have to pick berries in the forest (wow, what a life!). After entering the Community Centre and getting to know the "apples" creatures you already doubt your own sanity.

The next day you get an mail from.... Ras-mo-di-us? Ok, weird. Asking you to come to his "magic tower". What this locals are smoking in here is a mystery of the universe, definitely. Anyway, you have no choice but to head to that very tower.

Flowers all around, the whole room is foggy, it smells weird, and it's also hot - it looks like some kind of drug den... So where's the weirdo?

"I've been waiting for you, young [Y/n]."

Oh, no, he's hot.

You wanted to slap your head. You're lost, you don't know what's going on or where you are, you're cursing all this farm work, the locals are weird, and this is some suspicious-looking bloke, and your first thought is "oh no, he's hot"? There's definitely some weird drugs in the air...

Look, you tried to keep your voice as calm as possible, I don't think I'm from this universe.

"I know, young fool". The fuck, what now? Well, bring me back!

"Alas, I don't have that kind of magic yet, it takes time and rare resources. For now.... You should be what the people of Pelican Town think you are."

Oh, that's just fantastic!

Running after the crows that ruined your crops, pulling an old can of local cola out of a fishing rod hook, walking with tired hands after cutting down some trees, screaming in the Mines, escaping from slimes and bats, making ingots for necessary machines until night.... And you've got some kind of magic now. A quiet country life, nothing fancy.

Then there's that annoying supermarket, which reminds you painfully of that boring old office job....

Although, the locals here are mostly friendly.... They see that you're uncomfortable in your new community and try to make you feel at home. You really appreciated it, and tried your best for them in return by listening to their stories or giving those leftovers of a successful harvest. Your skills grew, you had already made friends with everyone in the Valley, and even kicked that stupid Joja company out of town. Little funny Junimos, hee-hee!

In particular you became close to Magnus (Rasmodius' first name). Even though it was hard for you to still believe in magic, but his talk about parallel worlds, his fascination with magical plants, his talking, his laugh, his looks (dilf material, oh my!), his kind heart and his pride in new spells and magical protection of the Valley from monsters.... You fell in love with him.

And after some conflicting thoughts about whether you're allowed to fall in love with anyone here if this isn't your world? But you have long been part of this world, part of this cosy and friendly community, part of this incredible and magical world.

All dreamy thoughts were gone when Magnus announced to you in a ringing voice that he'd found a way to get you home.

Home?, you repeated. But I'm already home.

And you just kissed Magnus, the die is cast. If he refuses, if he turns his back on you, it'll be hard for you to bear. But Magnus, oddly enough, returned the kiss.

"Then... The choice is made. I was afraid that... I fell in love with you as well, and that you would have to leave forever. But now... Now..."

He didn't have time to finish, because you kissed him again, more passionately this time.

Insert subtitles, ladies and gentlemen, for here is the happy ending.

[inghrafn]

So I think I broke my leg and just fucking WALKED IT OFF.

A month ago I (F/55, civil servant) fell down a flight of stairs IsayIsayIsay I FELL DOWN A FLIGHT OF STAIRS in a local govmint office and just GOT UP and KEPT GOING because it was my LUNCH HOUR and no one was around to hear me fall because THEY WERE ALL AT LUNCH TOO, so if anyone asks you if it makes a sound when a library assistant falls in the forest, the answer is NO *echo effect*

Anyway my leg's been bruised swollen & tender for a full month and the front plane of my shin has a strange no-longer-quite-straight quality I can't define except to say that I wouldn't let you near it with a carpenter's level lest my certificate of occupancy be revoked and I be condemned by the city which I am SURE is inevitable anyway (F/55)

but I'll tell you one thing, mister, the idea that I BROKE MY LEG AND WALKED IT OFF gives me a perverse and unspeakable sense of power, like no one can take me out now, stairwells have TRIED and FAILED so what about you punk?? HUH???? You gonna finish the job that gravity couldn't? That leg'll heal crookedly, my attitude even more so, and menopause makes badbitch Gorgons of us all so WATCH YER BACK KIDSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[soshiharin]

better than this world tour: new york

SETLIST

STYLING

CELEBS IN ATTENDANCE

— sabrina carpenter

— barry keoghan

— gigi hadid

— kelly clarkson

— ayo edebiri

HIGHLIGHTS

— it would not be an exaggeration to say that this was the most anticipated stop on the tour

— new york sones are lucky

— waiting for you now *gina linetti dancing gif*

— and bad ending??? yeah

— harin: hi madison square garden. i’m harin and we will spend the next two hours together. i hope this is enjoyable for you

— sone: I LOVE YOU

— harin: thank you

— the way her reply was so quick!

— everybody’s new fave plastic off the sofa was sung

— and dangerous woman 🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️

— better is that girl!

— and so is bounce back

— bother me outfit was soooo cute!

— and sweet fantasy had the crowd up and singing!

— so did you make me happy which was a surprise

— it would be a lie to say that pporappippam’s outfit did not cause a few hearts to stop

— bcs i mean… look at the material

— like it’s gorgeous

— secret love song highnote was GIVING

— she swapped out in the bed for breathin’ and the vocal slayage… yeah

— the encore stage took a while to start and everyone started chanting for harin obvi

— some sones had started singing genie in hopes that they’d get harin to perform it

— and then the words that caused sones everywhere to drop dead in unison

— “MADISON SQUARE GARDEN PUT IT BACK ON!!!”

— and then the last chorus of genie started playing and fans started screaming bcs there were FIVE (5) people on stage

— everyone obvi sang along to harin’s adlibs bcs theyre iconic💅🏾💅🏾

— and you know that stadium was LOUD and then you just got locals who are like🧍🧍😐 “what is going on”

— like the fanchants were heard from blocks away

— and you’ve got hyoyeon, tiffany, harin, sooyoung, and seohyun just slaying houses and boots down

— what a time, what a moment

— and the cheers continued even after they did their ending pose and the lights went off

— then the lights came back on and everyone could see the members clearly so the cheers got louder

— once more, the locals were just a teeny weeny bit super duper confused but they cheered along for support

— and as we all know, when two or more soshi members gather, chaos follows

— bcs why were they having full conversations on stage and having to constantly be reminded that they were at harin’s concert (not by her though bcs she was also invested in the convos)

— and at some point, hyoyeon gasped

— sooyoung: what’s the matter?

— hyoyeon: this is harin-ah’s concert and we’re taking up time

— seohyun: so thoughtful

— harin: but this works out for them bcs they keep complaining the concerts are too short so you can talk as much nonsense as you want

— and sones are just watching their interactions so happily, just soaking in the moment

— harin: you guys kept harassing me about “madison square garden, put it back on” so i made it happen. this kind of situation will never happen again, so don’t get any ideas

— and the members talked for a while just among themselves again

— seohyun: the people here that aren’t sones probably don’t know who we are

— you can always trust seohyun to be practical

— harin: then they can search you😐

— you can always trust harin to be blunt

— but they did end up introducing themselves bcs duh!

— and then they started walking off stage to let harin continue her concert but she stopped them

— harin: sit there *points at a little section of the stage where there are cushions to sit on*

— sooyoung, teasing: why? do you miss us already?

— harin: i want you there🙄 ur presence is comforting🙄🙄🙄

— seohyun, dragging everyone to sit down: unnie, i’m blushing🤭🤭

— and harin is just rolling her eyes but whats new?

— back to scheduled programming

— the encore continued like it normally does

— and her ending ment had people crying

— harin: this brings us near the end of the concert, just two more songs. thank you for coming and spending time with me tonight. i hope this was a good experience for you, see you tomorrow if you’ll be here tomorrow. and thank you to my angels over here, of course. i already told you when you arrived, but just having you on stage with me gives me a lot of strength, comfort, and peace of mind. let’s share many more stages together in the future

— and miss girl didn’t give the translator any time to translate it bcs she wasn’t saying it to the crowd, she was saying it to the members and they all knew what she was saying

— she fully went to the members’ little nook when singing my only love bcs who else is her only love🤨🤨🤨

— and then goodnight everyone!

— you already know #putitbackon and #soshimsg were trending on twitter afterwards

©️ jang harin

[empty-blog-for-lurking]

The Silt Verses chapter 3 review: Bro they fucking monetizing and gentrifying the rural religious cults D:

My thoughts-

Ok so first off we meet Hayward, who is ok I guess?? He seems to be your average jaded cop troupe. To be honest I wasn't as taken with him as I was with Carpenter whom I missed dearly while listening to this episode. He'll probably grow on me, or won't ehhhh let's see. However I did enjoy his perspective though. He seems to be more on atheistic side? Like obviously he does believe and even worships the Cloak and The Saint Electric but is nowhere near as devoted as Carpenter and Faulkner, even saying how the rural folk should be 'less intense' about their religion and gods. And of course that is the case, this man has seen the damage these gods do with his own eyes.

Another fascinating thing in this episode was the info about the gods, specifically a bit on legal vs illegal gods. At first I was thinking "oh the government most likely banned religions that required human sacrifice", but then we get this part-

Like this world's government is clearly willing to kill people (which should have been obvious to me but still). So the question is which gods they are allowing and which ones have they declared illegal. They are clearly A-ok with conglomerate sponsored gods like Sweet Jolly Crunchtooth (which I still can not believe is an actual name of an actual God in this series, let alone how it came to be) and a propaganda based gos for the coppers which can save them money, like The Cloak.

So is it like gods that the govt can control? Or can bring huge profits for the companies? A mix of both? Is there lobbying going on? Is that also why they are targeting local cults and making them illegal? So that the govt sanctioned gods can flourish? So many questions

Also the implications of how these gods came to be is also genuinely interesting! Simple things like a child imagining and playing or two husbands sharing an inside joke can create these guys. Invoking their name even if done in annoyance or as a joke gives them power and the more power they get, the hungrier they become and when that happens the more destruction they cause. Also with Mr Finch getting eaten was what caused the Hollow to finally feel sated, while the 4 people and multiple rabbits weren't? I feel like these gods especially want to feast on their loyal followers. But hey that's just a speculation.

(I also wonder if The Cloak and Sweet Jolly Crunchtooth also brought some form of death or destruction when they came to being. Hayward feels like an unreliable narrator)

I wonder if Mr Finch's husband survived or was he eaten too :(. Cause if it's the latter than it's truly a homophobic God.

Anyway point is these gods being creatures of name and belief is so interesting! The idea that these beings exist because people believe they exist, and their existence demands the worship and flesh, mmmm good shit! That's some good shit right there

That being said i also think this would only hamper the process of eliminating "illegal rituals". Because if their name and the fear of them is enough to power them, then trying to ban it and spreading propaganda about them is probably going to only make it worse. But then again this is just a theory and i am only on chapter 3

Also the last bit with Hayward saying that if system works then let it work. Yeah this was definitely a foreshadowing

Anyway great episode 10/10!

[ealvara7]

I've recently finished reading Meet Claudie, and I'm in absolute awe over how this book not only captured my nostalgia, but also got me to resonate deeply with an American Girl character for the first time.

I should probably start from the beginning... (Book spoilers down below!)

-

I began taking an interest in American Girl dolls again after finding out about the Disney Princesses line. I was originally going to take Tiana home with me, but ultimately chose Claudie because she invoked my nostalgia - as a young teen, I remembered checking out many of the American Girl historical books from my local library.

With Claudie, I got a couple pieces of clothing from her line, and one from Addy's.

It was her birthday outfit. I chose it because loved the design and thought it would look lovely on Claudie. The reason I am highlighting this outfit is because the bundle came with a paperback version of Happy Birthday, Addy! - a book which I found has many similarities to Meet Claudie.

To preface - I did not read any of the other Addy books prior to reading Happy Birthday, Addy! I might be missing some context that is important for the entire series, but I feel that this book works just fine as a stand alone story-

Happy Birthday, Addy! places a ton of focus on the hardships African Americans faced up North in early 1865. While Addy and her parents were able to escape from slavery, her older brother and baby sister remained in North Carolina, and despite their new freedom, Addy's father cannot find a job as a carpenter because of his race. Prejudice remained strong in Philadelphia, and while Addy is grateful for her new life, she despised the mistreatment of African Americans.

Throughout the course of the story, Addy tries to find the right date to call her birthday. Her parents do not know when exactly she was born, apart from the season - spring. Eventually, she chooses April 9th - the day the Civil War ended. The end and outcome of the war for Addy meant that she would be reunited with her siblings soon after, which is what makes the day so special to her.

Fast forward to 1922, Harlem, New York - Claudie Wells lives among a community of many talented African American artists that create the Harlem Renaissance. Meet Claudie begins with our main character's quest to find her own talent. As the story continues, the depressing truth begins to take center focus - African Americans still face prejudice, just in a different way.

Near the end of the book, Claudie finds out that the boarding house she lives in was sent an eviction notice. It is implied that while Claudie's family work hard and in the occupations they've dreamed of, they still have to face obstacles that come their way - higher charges for housing, violence caused by racism, things that make it difficult for an African American to live fairly.

Determined to save the boarding house, Claudie decides to put together a variety show. One of the most important characters in this book is Gwen, a painter who Claudie seeks help from to create backdrops for the show. Gwen is extremely reluctant at first, but eventually agrees under the condition that Claudie performs in the show. Claudie was hesitant - she does not believe that she has a talent, or have what it takes to be on a stage, but she eventually agrees. The book ends with Claudie joining her mother on a trip to Georgia in order to find inspiration for her play sketch - a lead onto the next book in the series, Adventures with Claudie.

I was in awe by how much Addy and Claudie's stories paralleled each other - both of them live in boarding houses, with families who struggle against prejudice. I love how the depiction of their boarding houses reflect the respective eras they come from - while both houses are described as crowded, specifically at the dining table, Addy's home created this lingering sense of dread in me, this fear that her family could be taken away from her at any given moment and nothing could be done about it. Claudie's home, on the other hand, feels more vibrant and welcoming - indicative of the progress African American rights have gone almost 60 years later.

While I'm not African American personally, I still resonate with Claudie because I understand what it feels like be uncertain about yourself. Finding that one thing that you are passionate about and builds up your life. For Claudie, it is slowly building up to the idea that whatever talent she decides to pursue further, it will be done out of love for her family, her friends, and her community.

I can't stress enough how wonderful of a sentiment that is to invoke in an American Girl story. It perfectly connects Claudie's historical and personal background to create a solid story that I believe kids deserve to read. I have yet to read Adventures of Claudie, but I am already invested-

[stevensavage]

Ice Pick Joe in Goncharov: His Own Hero

Ice Pick Joe is a fascinating character in Goncharov, and I can’t call him a “side” character, considering his sheer PRESENCE.  In fact, I think he’s a kind of protagonist.

See when I first saw Ice Pick Joe back as a kid surfing movie channels, I thought he was a kind of vigilante hero.  It seems he only hurt bad people (though everyone was bad) and he CRIED over doing it.  He also had CATS and was nice to that neighbor girl and she idolizes him - she mentions he protected the neighborhood.  Also Gil deserved it, honestly.

When I saw it later in my 30s, Joe creeped me out.  The single-weapon obsession, the wild eyes, the way he took orders.  Everyone else had connections, who did Joe have except a few neighbors and a lot of dead people?  I saw softer takes, and had to agree he was human, but just WEIRD.

Then, I finally decided to rewatch it now that everyone was talking, and I realized Joe IS a kind of protagonist - in his own mind.

Joe is a killer, let’s be obvious.  He kills FOR people, but he often cries over what he does.  I realized his little speech in the park is he views himself as killing bad people, even if he’s getting paid by marginally less-bad people.  He really, REALLY loves his cats and the enthusiasm he shows at the pet supply store is infectious.

But it’s his relations with his limited family and neighbors that put it together for me, especially his neighbor’s daughter who’s going to college.  She loves visiting him, she’s friendly, and I realized their little talk as he tells her about his cats makes a lot clear.

Joe has “taken care of” problems in the neighborhood.  It’s very clear he’s terrorized or outright killed a few people “causing trouble.”  A specific local carpenter is mentioned in colorful past tense, as are some rowdies that no longer show up.  He has that shy little smile when he talks about it.

Ice Pick Joe thinks he’s a hero.  But it’s just for the people near him and whatever bad people he gets paid to kill.  He’s a creepy killer and a hero at the same time.  He has two faces, just like everyone else.

Of course I have to credit the performance.  Absolutely stunning